The Big Norse Paganism Reading List

So, years ago some members of my Kindred and I put our heads together and created a reading list with an accompanying order for people who are new to Heathenry or are simply just interested in it. This took us awhile because there is a lot of information out there with varying degrees of quality. We also had choices to make regarding accessibility, understandably, and how enjoyable it is. 

Now, in 2025 I have circled back to revise this list with new information, new sources, and fresh eyes. I am also going to separate the books by category instead of reading order. Though I would suggest exploring the source material first. 

Source Material

These are the surviving lore that is from Scandinavia and the surrounding areas. It is important to note that some of these sources we were written down after the Christian Conversation. Myself and others have taken time to explore different translations. 

The Poetic Edda Translated and Edited by Jackson Crawford is the second book on the list. This is the best and most accessible translation of the Poetic Edda that is on the market. It is translated from the historic sources and it has a bonus chapter at the end called the Cowboy Havamal. The Cowboy Havamal is a rewriting of the first 85 or so verses told in the spirit of Crawford's grandpa (this is one of my favorite versions). The Poetic Edda is a modern name for a collection of Old Norse narrative poems written by an anonymous author in alliterative verse and it provides a lot of insight about the Gods, Goddesses, and morals. There is 2nd edition coming in September that expands on Jackson Crawford's 2015 translation of the Poetic Edda offers a wider range of poems (including the Eddic Old Norse poem "Svipdagsmal" and four related non-Eddic Old Norse poems, "Eiriksmal," "Hakonarmal," "Krakumal," and "Lokrur") as well as a revised translation and enhanced editorial apparatus. Set in a new page design, it also features samples from the Old Norse texts written in the Old Norse runic alphabet known as the Younger Futhark (in Jackson Crawford's hand) along with original Old Norse-inspired Latin alphabet typographical ideograms (by E. L. Wilson).

Edda (Snorru Sturluson) Translated by Anthony Faulkes is the second part of what makes up the core of the lore. This edition by the Everyman Library is generally hailed as one of the best translations currently available. This translation of the lore about the Gods and Goddesses, the Norse people, their heroes, and culture is an academic translation and keeps a lot of the same prose and structure of the original poems. The reading is not always easy but it is very rewarding and provides additional insight from a lot of the original translations. The stories are told in a chronological order. I would advise taking notes as you read through this and revisit them often.  

 

 

 

The Icelandic Saga Database is an online resource dedicated to publishing the Sagas of the Icelanders — a large body of medieval Icelandic literature. The sagas are prose histories describing events that took place amongst the Norse and Celtic inhabitants of Iceland during the period of the Icelandic Commonwealth in the 10th and 11th centuries CE.

 

 

 

 

 

The Saga of the Volsungs with The Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok by Jackson Crawford recount the story of seven generations of a single legendary heroic family and it comprises our best source of traditional lore about its members—including, among others, the dragon-slayer Sigurd, Brynhild the Valkyrie, and the Viking chieftain Ragnar Lothbrok. There are numerous translations out there but once again, Jackson Crawford knocks it out of the park with a translation that is approachable and enjoyable. 
 

 

 

 

 

Retelling

Retellings are works that take the lore from the source material and weave it into a story that follows more modern day writing and storytelling practices. These retellings are easier to read due to the way the are written but may leave out or add in different aspects to varying degrees of liberty. 

 

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman provides an amazing introduction to Norse Mythology that is an absolute joy to read and listen to. These stories are organized in a way that takes you on a journey from the creation of the universe to the end with various myths in-between. All of the lore is taken from the Poetic and Prose Eddas.  

 

 

 

 

Children of Odin: The Book of Northern Myths by Padraic Colum is a collection of lore from the Eddas that are not in chronological order and are written in a short story format for a younger population. It includes a lot of the core poems from the Eddas but also covers the more obscure lesser known one like the human hero Sigurd, the Valkyrie Brynhildr, Fafnir the Dragon, and some of Odin's other wanderings.

 

 

 

 

 

The Gospel of Loki by Joanne M. Harris is a chronological retelling of a lot of the core poems from the Eddas. Though, the difference is that everything is told from the perspective of Loki as Loki is the protagonist in this retelling. The book is filled with dark witty humor, sarcasm, and provides an interest take on the more classical narratives.

 

 

 

 

 

The out of print Rhinegold by Stephan Grundy is a novelization retelling of the Vulsung Saga. This book also incorporates additional details from the German Nibelungenlied and Thidrek’s Saga. Rhinegold is a multi-generational saga that focuses on Sigurd the Dragonslayer, who also appears in the Icelandic Eddas (although outside the main narrative arc of both). This reads like an epic fantasy novel and is great to curl up with next to a fire. 

 

 

 

 

 Modern Norse Paganism  

This has been the most difficult section to make choices for. There are a lot of books out there that cover the basics and can be considered introductions to practicing Norse Paganism and living the life. There is also a lot of books out there that cover this topic that are written by problematic/fascist people. 

The Way of Fire and Ice: The Living Tradition of Norse Paganism by Ryan Smith provides a good overview on history, key concepts about Norse Paganism, ethics, Gods and Goddesses, community building, daily spirituality (and building your personal relationships), and explains the living tradition concept. Now, this book does a couple of things differently that I am impressed with and I wish more literature would do the same. The first thing it does is that it states that it is not enough to be inclusive and not allow any from of racism/fascism/sexism/homophobia/transphobia/etc inside our circle but to directly oppose the fascists and the racist groups (yes it gets political). The second thing is provides a concise spiritual operating system that is the foundation of the practice and "living the way." The third that is that it provides context and lore examples when it discusses the ethical practices of the path. The final aspect is how it approaches community building and provides information and what to watch out when interacting with solitary practitioners and groups. 

 

A Practical Heathen's Guide to Asatru by Patricia M. Lafayllve is an decent overview about what Norse Paganism is. It covers all of the bases and there is a good amount of pages dedicated to history. It also has a great section regarding ancestors and there reverence. This is an older book and some of it feels dated and probably is due for a second edition but regardless of that, provides a good starting point.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Academic

 There are a lot of academic works that have completed in regards to the ancient Scandinavian cultures, the viking age, and spirituality that was practiced through the Christian conversions. Some of these works are more approachable then others. What is listed below are what I consider the core academic works. 

 

Gods and Myths of Northern Europe by Ellis Davidson Surveys the pre-Christian beliefs of the Scandinavian and Germanic peoples. Provides an introduction to this subject, giving basic outlines to the sagas and stories, and helps identify the character traits of not only the well known but also the lesser gods of the age.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Road to Hel: A Study of the Conception of the Dead in Old Norse Literature by Hilda Roderick Ellis was originally published in 1943, this book was written using a variety of evidence from archaeology and literature concerning Norse funeral customs to reconstruct their conception of future life, the soul of man, the cult of the dead, and the journey to the land of the dead. The text is notable as one of the first comprehensive treatments of these areas, showing how knowledge could be forwarded by correlation of the evidence from various academic fields. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in Norse history, archaeology and literature. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trolls: An Unnatural History by John Lindow discussed how trolls lurk under bridges waiting to eat children, threaten hobbits in Middle-Earth, and invade the dungeons of Hogwarts. Often they are depicted as stupid, slow, and ugly creatures, but they also appear as comforting characters in some children’s stories or as plastic dolls with bright, fuzzy hair. Today, the name of this fantastic being from Scandinavia has found a wider reach: it is the word for the homeless in California and slang for the antagonizing and sometimes cruel people on the Internet. But how did trolls go from folktales to the World Wide Web?
 
To explain why trolls still hold our interest, John Lindow goes back to their first appearances in Scandinavian folklore, where they were beings in nature living beside a preindustrial society of small-scale farming and fishing. He explores reports of actual encounters with trolls―meetings others found plausible in spite of their better judgment―and follows trolls’ natural transition from folktales to other domains in popular culture. Trolls, Lindow argues, would not continue to appeal to our imaginations today if they had not made the jump to illustrations in Nordic books and Scandinavian literature and drama. From the Moomins to Brothers Grimm and Three Billy Goats Gruff to cartoons, fantasy novels, and social media, Lindow considers the panoply of trolls that surround us and their sometimes troubling connotations in the contemporary world.

 

Other Resources

 

A list of other important resources. 

 

• On Black Wings 
• Jackson Crawford's Youtube Channel
• Queering the Runes 
• The Language of Fire and Ice
  

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